Vision: Day 4

Devotion by: Joni White

Hebrews 6:17-20

In the same way, when God desired to show even more clearly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed it by an oath, so that through two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible that God would prove false, we who have taken refuge might be strongly encouraged to seize the hope set before us. We have this hope, a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters the inner shrine behind the curtain, where Jesus, a forerunner on our behalf, has entered, having become a high priest for ever according to the order of Melchizedek.

Today’s visionary verses were written to Jewish people who had converted to Christianity at a time when Christians were in grave danger of being brutalized by the Romans, two generations after the death of Jesus. At their lowest point, shunned by their families and neighbors, living in fear of arrest and persecution, they could take comfort in these words. They were assured of God’s promise of resurrection, a promised secured by an oath. Knowing of both the promise and the oath, these early Christians had “this hope, a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul . . ..”

Only the High Priest of the Levites could pass through the curtain to approach the Ark of the Covenant—and that was only once per year, on the Day of Atonement. The High Priest asked God to forgive all the Hebrews for their sins on that day. If God allowed the High Priest to come back outside, it meant the population had been granted forgiveness. The writer was using Old Testament imagery to both reassure the people of God’s steadfastness, and demonstrate that Christ has removed the barriers between us and God. These words give me vision, hope and assurance that God encourages me to communicate with him through prayer, music, meditation and worship anytime and anywhere.

PRAYER: Jesus our hope, thank you for being our unchanging anchor, firm and secure. You are our high priest forever! Amen.